How to decorate with blue: an interiors expert shares her tips

AS many home decorators would know, blue is one of the easiest colours to decorate with.

A timeless hue, it offers a multitude of shades that marry nicely with different decor themes.

According to Porter Davis lead interior designer Stephanie Atanasovski, blue has become increasingly popular, with more people wanting to bring the outdoors in.

“As we look towards stepping up our connection with nature, we’re seeing blue used a lot more inside to reference what we see outside – the sky, the ocean,” Ms Atanasovski said.

The colour’s popularity has reached new heights, with Classic Blue chosen as the 2020 colour of the year by the Pantone Color Institute, a global expert on colour. The chosen colour sets the latest trends in design and interiors, and this year’s pick couldn’t be more appropriate.

“Blue introduces a feeling of serenity, which is what we all want for our homes,” Ms Atanasovski said.

How’s the serenity? Blue has calming qualities.

Light touch

Although blue was regarded as a fairly versatile colour, Ms Atanasovski advised using a light hand when applying it to an interiors scheme.

“Don’t overdo it or the look will quickly become overwhelming and messy,” she said.

Stick to one or two elements in blue for each space, she explained, and use it as an accent colour, rather than the primary colour.

Accent pieces could include cushions, lampshades, throws, floor rugs, objects, artwork, an upholstered bedhead, an occasional chair or even a set of dining chairs.

Ms Atanasovski also recommended keeping your palette to no more than two shades of blue.

“If you’re going with a royal blue, have a mid-tone blue partnered with it and always balance and break up these shades with something neutral,” she said.

Blue works beautifully in accent pieces such as floor rugs and cushions.

Style setting

It’s best to have a decorating style in mind before choosing what blues you’d like to use.

“Do a little research beforehand because you don’t want to put the wrong blue with the wrong style, otherwise it will evoke a completely different look and feel than you intended,” Ms Atanasovski said.

For a contemporary home, consider royal blue. For a Hamptons-style look, opt for duck-egg blue. And for a mid-century vibe, combine blue with mustard.

For sophisticated spaces, such as a formal sitting room or dining area, Ms Atanasovski recommended pairing blue with a crisp white or light grey.

“Introducing light greys into the mix will stop the home from looking too sterile,” she explained.

Light grey is a perfect match with blue for a sophisticated look.

Creative thinking

Ms Atanasovski said it was good to experiment with how blue could be interpreted in your decor scheme.

Turn your attention to less-traditional features, such as curtains, for example.

Blue velvet drapes would layer a space with richness and warmth, while duck-egg blue sheers would create a lighter, fresher feel.

If you do choose to have a large furniture piece in blue – such as a sofa or bed – stop there.

“I wouldn’t add any more blue to this room. Let the sofa or bed be the focal point. You don’t want to have other blues competing with it,” Ms Atanasovski said.

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For instance, she would avoid putting a blue sofa in front of blue wall panelling.

“You need to create breathing space. A neutral-coloured sofa here will maintain some balance and keep the space feeling restful,” she said. “You can then add a few blue cushions on the sofa to tie back to the wall colour.”

Bedrooms, alfresco zones and living areas are among the most popular rooms to decorate in blue, largely because they are spaces we gravitate to for relaxing.

“People want to be surrounded by a colour palette they connect with personally and puts them at ease and blue definitely does that,” Ms Atanasovski said.

Bedrooms are among the most popular rooms to decorate in blue.

This bed linen sets a peaceful tone.

Handy tips

Here is some more advice from Ms Atanasovski on decorating with blue:

• Be aware of how your colour will respond under various light conditions. Different blues have different undertones – some throw off a grey undertone; some have more of a red undertone.

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